Bell IP relay

Bell IP Relay is the next generation of relay service in Canada. It uses the familiarity of online chat applications to make communication easier for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing people and those with speech disabilities.

Bell IP Relay users connect to specially trained operators through chat sessions in the Bell IP Relay portal. The operators place phone calls on their behalf and facilitate conversations.

Bell IP Relay operators are available 24/7. Calls are entirely confidential and operators follow a strict code of ethics. No record of conversation content is retained.

A valid Bell Home phone number – if your phone service isn’t linked to your MyBell profile, you will need to add it

Fill out the registration form while paying special attention to the Service Limitations and emergency address information. Your registration confirmation will be sent to the email address saved in your MyBell profile. Please save a copy of this email as it contains your Bell IP Relay access number and other important information.

Charges and billing

There is no charge for using Bell IP Relay to place calls within Canada. Operator-assisted directory assistance (4-1-1) is also available free of charge.

Long distance charges apply for calls to the U.S. and overseas. These calls are billed to your Bell Home phone service based on your long distance calling plan and applicable discounts. Some users may be eligible for a 50% discount on long distance calls. To register for the discount, or for more information, please contact the Accessibility services centre.

When you place a call through Bell IP Relay, the first part of the call travels over the Internet. Therefore, if charges apply, they will be charged based on your Bell Home phone number no matter where you are physically located.

Collect, person-to-person, third-number billing and Calling Card™ calls are not supported. Calls to 1-900 numbers are not supported.

Prepaid cards are supported. Please provide instructions to the operator before placing a call using a prepaid card.

Bell IP Relay operators do not have access to your Bell billing information, but can help you contact the appropriate department

System and technical requirements

To use Bell IP Relay, you will need:

A computer with a Windows or Mac operating system

Windows XP, Vista, 7

Mac OS X

A broadband Internet connection with a download speed of at least 1 Mbps

A web browser

Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera

Other browsers may also be compatible

Note: Bell IP Relay is not compatible with Windows 8.

Bell IP Relay allows you to make data calls from any computer that meets these requirements – even in an Internet café, using a public Wi-Fi hotspot or with a 3G wireless enabled laptop. You do not need any special equipment or software.

Accessing Bell IP Relay

Although Bell IP Relay is optimized for desktop and laptop computers, it is possible to access the service on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. However, on a mobile device, you may not have all the same advantages normally available on a computer. For example, you may not be able to see your entire IP Relay conversation due to smaller screen sizes, or remain logged in to the service for extended periods of time.

To use Bell IP Relay with your mobile device, please ensure it meets the following requirements:

Call this number to connect with a Bell IP Relay operator, who will relay your call to a registered Bell IP Relay user.

Account management

Your Bell IP Relay service is tied to your Bell Home phone service, and remains active as long as you have a valid Bell Home phone number. If you cancel Bell Home phone, your Bell IP Relay service will also be cancelled.

If you move or change your phone number, the originating phone number used for Bell IP Relay calls will automatically update when your new phone number becomes active. If you are keeping the same phone number, nothing will change.

The 9-digit number you received by email is your unique Bell IP Relay access number. To receive calls through Bell IP Relay, you will need to provide this number to your friends and family.